National Republican., 1887-02-25
Queer LeRislntion.

The gentleman from Aurora, Ind, who
for nearly quarter Of q century has stood
upon the highest pinnacle of parslmonious
retrenchment in national affairs has fallen
as deep down into the depths Of extrava-
eance as to amaze alike his enemies and
his friends. Some regret this fatal plunge,
for, with all his faults, William Sampson
Holman had a few admirers. His corn
cob theories Of economy, and his blue jean
application Of those theories to the appro.
piiatlon measures Of Congress, originated
from an honest desire to tighten the purse
strings Of the treasury against the rapa-
clous maws Of the lobby. This has given
him q reputation throughout the country
that distinguishes him above all the other
law makers of the republic as persistent
obiector to all loose legislation But he
has fallen now from the high eminence
thus reached In the estimation Of some, at
least, and no one can be found, save q few
gentlemen from the west, to support him.
The diplomatic and consular appropria-
ton bill came up in the House last week
and Mr.. Holman pounced upon its foreign
parts with his accustomed spring. He OBJ
jected to everything that had the semblauce
OF an improvement OF the service, until he
came to the contingent expenses OF the
mission, when, TO the amazement OF every
one, be helped to secure the appropriation
OF Sl050G0 for seals, flags, presses, and
signs for the use Of the legations. Here
tofore about six thousand dollars have been
annually expended for this purpose. As
there are thirty. seven missions, Mr.. Hol-
man proposes to grant each one nearly
$4,000 for seals, presses, flags, and signs,
this being sum eighteen times as great as
was ever expended for the same purpose
during the gloomiest period OF alleged Re-
publican extravaganza.
1t seems like dream, but when the
news is fairly circulated among the buckle.
berry pickers Of Mr.. uolman's district 1t
may prove dreamless political sleep for
him from which there is no waking, for his
constituency sent him here as the watch
dog of the appropriations, and now we
find him baying louder for extravaganza
than all the rest in the great congressional
kennel.
When the bill reached the Senate COM
mittee and the members were informed
| that the Indiana gentleman had paid much
attention to the measure they were not
surprised to find that no appropriation had
been made for rent, clerk hire, postage,
and other necessary expenses of the mis-
sions, and also that no provision had been
made for several very important consulates.
But when they discovered that he had
| granted nearly 100000 more than was
necessary for flags, seals, presses, and
signs they were almost paralyzed with
wonderment, and exclaimed: "Those
whom the gods wish to sit down on they
first make mad" One grave senator in
timated that the goes had finished their
work when Mr.. Holman entered the thirty
sixth Congress, but the majority were o!
the opinion that the present malady was a
different madness. The first was only
skirfiint mania, but this was giddy cory
bentic diarrhGa Of prodlgalty.
We sincerely regret that when scarcely
across the threshold of the new era OF JEFF
| fersonian simplicity this, the plainest and
most simple man OF them all, the one whose
very name was synonym for double dis
titled retrenchment, should with his own
| frugal fingers attempt to turn the national
| pap sack wrong side out, as 1t were.
| Beware, Mr.. Holman, Of the corn grow.
ers Of Veraestan and Aurora. You have
hitherto heen the ideal embodiment OF their
liekpenny goddess Of scrimpdom. Re.
member that 1t is your solemn duty as their
representative to squeeze every twenty
fve.cent piece in the appropriation bills
until the gray forest eagle thereon dutters
with anguish and his tail feathers wriggle
In pain. This is your mission in life. Ma
tuIe never intended you to be otherwise.
Therefore stick to your bush, and cling
close to your hide-bound title Of "save
ALL" There you are at home, and no mat
ter how humble, there is NO place like that.
We will simply add that the Senate is
busily engaged in correcting the absurd
blunders contained in the bill, and will soon
return it to the House. May 1t receive a
more intelligent consideration than was
granted 1t last week.